DIY All-round Wine Tour of Bordeaux

When visiting the Bordeaux wine régions the best is to have your own private guide to put a super itinerary together to show a good mix of properties, get you there smoothly and to fill you in on all the background information, politics and explain the confusing terms seen on the wine labels.

Or you could do it yourself. I am happy to give the names of the best places to get an all round experience as you say (it does not matter which order you do them in). There are only 200 top chateaux (GCC= Grand Cru Classé or equivalent) and 8000 other properties where the wine is made by passionate small producers (those with soil on their shoes. It is important to see a mix of châteaux in Bordeaux to get a true picture to the wine region and get to meet the winemaker face-to-face! For more information on SIP (Small Independent Producers) and my list of great value Bordeaux.

Bordeaux is a beautiful city and the best place to be based as it is equ-idistant to the wine régions. Some châteaux charge around 12€pp visit/tasting fee. You only taste one or two wines at each château. Three is the perfect number to do in one day so it is possible to drive yourself. You just need to know where you are going and allow enough time to get there!

Lunch in the magnificent gardens of Château Siaurac a beautiful place in Lalande de Pomerol, five minutes from St Emilion. A private chef will prepare a light seasonal meal with a comarative tasting of the owner’s three top wines; their Pomerol (neighbour to Petrus), their St Emilion from the limestone plateau and Siaurac itself from Lalande de Pomerol.